The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-29

mcnt.
Editor Press and R,t,lnrr:
1t appears from an editorial in your last is
sue, that you are of the opinion that hat the
grand jury in its recent preScninent, pre-
sented" the Supreme Court, especially aS 10
the Rush case. The grand jury distinctly
says that: 1--WE find II source Of complaint
and of evil in the abSurditiCs and incongrt-
| tiles and abStruSencSS OF nnHnlOCf 0i inc iStot.
ute lupS m,riSelY cnactcd IN The paa fcW gears.
This has no reference to either the supreme
Court or the Rush case. The grand jury pre-
scnted our lac makers. The supreme Court
does not make laws; it only cOnSLrucS them.
When the General Assembly enacts bad laws
whv law the blame on the Supreme Court? l
make this statement in order to correct any
wrong impression that your repeated attacks
upon this much abused court may convey 10
those who are not familiar with all The facLS,
and not because, as you may suppose, by rea-
son Of my being one of Mrs. Rush 'SattorncyS.
The Supreme Court would, indeed, be dong
wrong to take the bit in its teeth and to de-
eide matter of law contrary TO the statute
enacted by the General Assembly, whether or
not the said Statute law was wisely, or un,
wisely enacted. This Court certainly could
have no object in deciding the Rush case as II
did, and am decidedly of the opinion that
the opinions OF those not vcrsed in the In
tricies of the law will have no effect upon the
Court. What do lawyers know ABOUT eiec-
tricity? With equal good reason may ask,
what do grand juries and editors who nave
not studied law know about it: Let each
profession stick to its own procession. nat
does the Supreme Court know about conduct
ing the Press and Banner? No doubt If the
Supreme Court would undertake to dictate
the management Of your paper, its inter
ference would he received with very III grace
Those illustrations are simple and easily
comprehendcd and use them TO show that
the Supreme Court ought to be allowed to
manage its own business.
Let us put the blame, If any, in regard TO
these laws where it properly belongs. The
members Of the General Assembly must
shoulder it; and let us not claim that the Su-
preme Court is "presented" when the very
words of the presentmentment refer 10 our
law makers. do not propose In any way 10
criticise the presentment of the grand jury,
and while agree with it that we have some
very bad laws in our Statutes. will not lay
the blame of their enactment on the Su-
preme Court; nor will / censure this Court
for sustaining the laws us enacted. If a hard
ship has been brought about by the decision
of the Supreme Court in the Rush case, 1t is
n very simple matter with the General AS
sembly to repeal the married woman's con.
tract law and pass law in its stead that Will
be more acceptable to the lawyers and the
people. would ask that the Press and Ban
n,r now cease to lombard the Supreme Conrt
and turn its battererS against our law makers
in order to force them to repeal this obnoX-
ious law The warfare on the Supreme Court
is without effect. 1t is bomb-proof and it has
the strength Of its honest convictions to Sus-
tain 1t. WM. L. CALHOUN.